A house in Harford County went up in flames yesterday evening, with early reports from Deputy State Fire Marshals indicating a lightning strike as the likely cause, WMAR-2 News reports. The blaze claimed the lives of two dogs while the homeowners were away at the time of the incident.
The fire was responded to by the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company and Harford County Department of Emergency Services, among other fire departments. They were at the scene by 6:10 p.m. on Schuster Road with heavy flames already consuming the residence, according to DC News Now. Multiple tankers were used to combat the fire, which firefighters believe originated in the attic, despite the home's fire sprinklers being installed below.
The 2300 block of Schuster Road was exposed to severe storms at the time, and neighbors in the vicinity reported both seeing and feeling the impact of a lightning strike. According to WMAR-2 News, firefighters arrived within six minutes of the initial call, finding the house engulfed in flames that quickly spread. The speed and ferocity of the fire were undoubtedly fueled by its ignition point being in the attic—a place beyond the reach of the already-equipped fire sprinklers.
